A Study Of The African Americans In The Great Depression

When the Black were transported to America for sale in slave trade, their status was destined. They lived without freedom. They did not have the same political, economical and social right as the White people. They were in the social bottom. However, the United States is a democratic, equal and free country. When the black people confront with the difficulty and the American dream, there is a paradox between slavery and freedom. In the paradox, the Black must fight for equality and freedom with great courage.In the early of the 20^th century, there was Great Migration in the American history. The southern black were attracted by Northern and Western favorable environment. They could have jobs and some political rights. They could get good education. When large number of the African American settled down in northern Metropolis and industrial cities, black communities emerged. The changes of distribution of the black population structure caused development of the black society. In the transformation, racial discrimination not only was in the south, also became the national problem. In the north and mid-west, the black national consciousness has developed. "Harlem Renaissance" in New York was the main reflect of the black national consciousness. The national consciousness is very important for encouraging black to fight for equal fights.Experiencing the Great Depression in 1929, the American society had changed a lot. In the Great Depression, the African American were suffered with discrimination and segregation. They were disadvantage on the work, education, employment , habitation and so on, which made worse influence on their life. Facing with the unequality, the African Ameircan took all kinds of fighting ways for rights in the democratic system. Black labors established labor unions one after another. They associated with all allies who were not against black. They carried out the boycott movement and the March on Washington Movement to express their dissatisfaction and angry on the job-discrimination. At the same time, the Afrcian American middle class led the black. NAACP made importent progress on discrimination and black education. They encouraged and organised the black for politics equacal right. The City League canvassed government for black employment.When Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected for the United States President in 1932, he carried out the New Deal at the beginning. He issued laws and regulations boldly, which saved the American economic. However, in the course of the New Deal, African American became "the forgotten people". Many practices of the New Deal helped the difficulty of the black temporarily. They did not eliminate the discrimination fundamentally or give the black more equal rights in the south. In the course of the New Deal, the African American must fight for their right under the American democratic. At the same time, the black culture, which succeeded the achievement of the "New Black" movement, had developed further. It has made much contribution for American culture, and the black people used the culture as vector to improve the racial relation.The Great Depression was an important period of the American history. It was also a significant stage for African American liberation struggle. African American received the accomplishment and the struggle remained the historical limitation, which provided condition for African American Civil Right Movement in 60s.